Uniquely United

“Red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight. Jesus loves the little children of the world!” Did you ever sing that song in church? If you did, and if the church you grew up in was like most churches in America, you probably didn’t see as diverse a group of people in your church as was described in that song. It has been said that the most segregated hour in America is on Sunday morning. But how can that be? If God’s love crosses racial, ethnic, and cultural barriers, why is His church still so divided by race? Join us for the final message in Tightrope where we will explore the importance of diversity and unity, and learn how the church must begin to pursue greater diversity if we are going to fulfill Jesus’ mission.

And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. And as was his custom, he went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and he stood up to read. And the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written,

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

    because he has anointed me

    to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

    and recovering of sight to the blind,

    to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

And he rolled up the scroll and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him and marveled at the gracious words that were coming from his mouth. And they said, “Is not this Joseph's son?”

Luke 4:16-22 (ESV)

Core Value:

We are diverse but united.

• Diversity– Unity = Secular Tribalism

• Unity – Diversity = Religious Tribalism

• Diversity + Unity = Gospel Reconciliation

Balance Check:

Questions:

• Has your commitment to diversity led you away from a commitment to the essential Gospel message?
• Are you more interested in making people like you than you are in sharing the universal Gospel message?

Daily Readings:

Day 1: Luke 4
Day 2: Ephesians 2
Day 3: Acts 10
Day 4: Acts 11
Day 5: Acts 15
Day 6: Galatians 2
Day 7: Galatians 3

Suggested Resources:

Books:

Bloodlines, by John Piper

Other sermon series (visit the sermon page):

Jumping Fences (July 1, 2018)